Over 10.4 million tourists reported in Romania from January to September this year. Only 20% of them were foreign visitors

10.449 million tourists were reported in the accommodation units in Romania in the first nine months of 2019, up 4.4pct from the same period of the previous year, according to latest data released by the National Institute of Statistics (INS) on Friday.

The arrivals of the Romanian tourists in the establishments of tourists’ reception with functions of tourists’ accommodation were 79.8% of the total arrivals, while the foreign tourists were 20.2%.

As to the arrivals of the foreign tourists in the establishments of tourists’ reception, the highest weight had those coming from Europe (74.4% of the total of foreign tourists) and 84.9% of them came from European Union Member States.

In the period 1.01-30.09.2019, the overnight stays in the establishments of tourists’ reception amounted to 23902.0 thousands, 6.0% more compared to the period 1.01-30.09.2018.

In the period 1.01-30.09.2019, the Romanian tourists’ overnight stays in the establishments of tourists’ reception with functions of tourists’ accommodation were 82.8% of the total overnight stays, while the foreign tourists’ overnight stays were 17.2%.

As to the overnight stays of foreign visitors in the establishments of tourists’ reception, the highest weight had those coming from Europe (72.1% of the total of foreign tourists) and 84.3% of them came from European Union Member States.

In the period 1.01-30.09.2019, the average duration of stay was 2.4 days for Romanian tourists and 2.0 days for foreign tourists. In the period 1.01-30.09.2019, the net use index of accommodation places was 35.4% on total tourists’ accommodation structures, 2.1 percentage points more compared to the period 1.01-30.09.2018. In the period 1.01-30.09.2019, hotels (44.0%), bungalows (33.2%), tourist villas (29.7%), ship accommodation places (27.9%), hostels (26.4%), camping sites (24.5%) and tourist boarding houses (23.1%) registered higher use indices of accommodation places.

By county, the number of tourists’ arrivals in the establishments of tourists’ reception with functions of tourists’ accommodation) recorded in the period 1.01 – 30.09.2019 higher values in Bucharest Municipality (1530.7 thousands), Constanța (1309.6 thousands), Braşov (1062.5 thousands), Cluj (509.4 thousands), Mureș (466.8 thousands) and Prahova (445.9 thousands), while the number of tourists’ overnight stays) recorded higher values in Constanța (4981.8 thousands), Bucharest Municipality (2637.1 thousands), Braşov (2118.9 thousands), Bihor (1186.4 thousands), Vâlcea (1156.9 thousands), Prahova (996.9 thousands), Cluj (955.4 thousands) and Mureș (903.5 thousands).

Most of the foreign visitors accommodated in the establishments of tourists’ reception with functions of tourists’ accommodation) came from Germany (239.3 thousands), Israel (180.6 thousands), Italy (170.2 thousands), USA (129.3 thousands), Hungary (128.1 thousands), France (122.7 thousands) and the United Kingdom (108.8%). In the reference period 1.01-30.09.2019, the arrivals of foreign visitors to Romania, according to customs, amounted to 10023.4 thousands, 10.2% more compared to the period 1.01-30.09.2018. The road and air means of transport were mostly used for the arrivals of foreign visitors to Romania, accounting for 75.1%, respectively for 22.4% of total arrivals.

In the period 1.01-30.09.2019, the departures of Romanian visitors abroad, according to customs, amounted to 18446.0 thousands, by 10.0% more compared to the period 1.01-30.09.2018. Romanian visitors mostly used the road and air means of transport for their departures abroad, accounting for 69.7%, respectively for 29.8% of the total departures.

September 2019 vs September 2018

Arrivals and overnight stays with Romania’s tourist accommodation establishments increased by 1.1pct and 1.5pct, respectively, while the arrivals of foreign visitors increased by 10.3pct, in September this year as against September 2018.

According to INS, in September 2019, arrivals at Romania’s tourist accommodation establishments amounted to 1.312 million, up 1.1pct from September 2018, and out of the total number of arrivals, Romanian tourists represented 78.1pct, and foreign tourists 21.9pct.

Regarding the arrivals of foreign tourists at Romania’s tourist accommodation establishments, the highest share was held by those from Europe (75.4pct of the total foreign tourists), out of which 85.7pct came from EU member states.

INS data also show that overnights with Romania’s tourist accommodation establishments in September 2019 were 3.027 million, up 1.5pct from the same month of the previous year. Romanian tourists’ overnights made up 82.3pct, with the rest being of foreign tourists, their highest share of whom was held by tourists from Europe (73.6pct) and 85.9pct from other EU member state.

The average length of stay in September 2019 was 2.4 days for Romanian tourists, and 1.9 days for foreign tourists.

The arrivals of foreign visitors to Romania, as registered at the border checkpoints, were 1.18 million in September 2019, up 10.3pct over September 2018. Road and air transport were the most used for arrivals from abroad, making up 73.9pct and 23.0pct, respectively, of the total number of arrivals.